Organized by the Bachelor’s Degree in Animation and Video Games, the 19th edition of the festival featured the screening of 33 short films from countries around the world, conferences by prominent professionals in the animation industry, and workshops aimed at pre-university students covering various techniques and aspects of the field.
The International Animation Festival is an annual event that brings together and celebrates the best in global animation. It was created to showcase the work of students, graduates, and independent creators, and over time has become a key meeting point for the animation community in Uruguay and the region.
Over its editions, FIA has received more than 4,000 short films from over 75 countries, making it an internationally recognized event.
The festival has even screened and awarded In the Shadow of the Cypress in the Jury Grand Prize and Best Animated Short Film categories, a short film that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Oscars.
Each year, the festival combines short film screenings with talks, conferences, and workshops led by international and national experts, fostering both education and exchange among professionals, students, and the general public.
In addition to awarding the best works in different categories, FIA has hosted guests and jurors from prestigious institutions and animation studios worldwide.
Its collaborative spirit is also reflected in the active involvement of the Animation and Video Games students from Universidad ORT Uruguay, who participate in organizing and staging the event.
FIA Conferences
ACAU: Talk on Grants for Animation
The International Animation Festival welcomed the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU), represented by Mariana Díaz, Coordinator of Funds and Calls, and Camila de los Santos, Coordinator of the Training area.
The agency’s talk focused on presenting the various tools and calls available for the audiovisual sector in Uruguay, with a special emphasis on animation and video games.
They highlighted that 68% of Uruguayan audiovisual productions receive public support, making it essential to know about financing opportunities.
They also explained that ACAU supports all stages of a project, from script development to international distribution, including specific opportunities for animation, a sector that requires differentiated calls and funds.
In addition to providing information on access to national and international funds, the agency emphasized its role in promoting continuous education, creating exhibition spaces, and collaborating with educational institutions.
The activity aimed to bring students closer to the country’s audiovisual ecosystem, motivating them to develop their ideas and consider applying for funds as a key step toward project feasibility.
Colin Giles: “Cartoon Animation: Exaggerating the 12 Principles of Animation”
As part of FIA, the conference “Cartoon Animation: Exaggerating the 12 Principles of Animation” was presented by Colin Giles, Director of the Animation and VFX School at Vancouver Film School.
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Giles has worked as an animator, director, producer, and character designer for studios such as Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, and contributed to feature films like Sausage Party (2016).
During the talk, Giles explained that exaggeration is not limited to enlarging gestures or movements but is an essential tool to bring characters to life and emphasize the story’s core.
He noted that exaggeration is one of the 12 classic principles of animation but also exists within other principles such as squash and stretch, anticipation, and appeal.
He showed examples from masters like Pablo Picasso and Disney animator Milton Kahl to illustrate how an exaggerated line or clear silhouette can more powerfully convey a character’s intent.
A good pose immediately communicates an attitude. It doesn’t need to be cute to have appeal; even a sad or scary gesture can be engaging if well executed.
The talk also covered composition and camera use. Giles explained that exaggerating time and space is key to creating emotional impact, and that arranging elements within a frame can guide the viewer’s attention to the most significant parts.
Using examples like Tangled (2010), he demonstrated how exaggeration in staging builds humor, action, or drama and allows for tonal variety to maintain dynamic storytelling.
Pablo Marcovecchio: "Dare to Animate" (from the Global South)
To close the festival, Pablo Marcovecchio—director and founder of Enano Maldito—gave a lecture reviewing the professional decisions that led him to become a leading figure in animation and post-production in Uruguay.
“I’m almost an industrial designer,” he began, explaining how his academic background, combined with a father who was an architect and photographer and a mother who was a chemist, gave him a dual perspective between technical and creative thinking. This intersection led him to find animation as an ideal space where both worlds could coexist.
With 15 years at Enano Maldito, he emphasized that his studio is known for aesthetic care and dedication to each animated project. However, he insisted on going beyond advertising:
We don’t want to be limited to a spinning cellphone or a yogurt pack. We always look for a space to tell more, to propose something from a narrative or aesthetic perspective.
In that journey, projects like the Uruguayan series TV Educativa, selected at Canneseries in 2022, emerged: “From the South, it’s also possible to create quality content and compete globally with production intelligence and passion,” he said, showing the process behind this pioneering experience.
Finally, he reflected on the current state of the industry with the rise of artificial intelligence, noting how it can be useful, but without script, direction, and teamwork, there is no story; the human contribution is irreplaceable.
Awards Ceremony
The awards were presented by Alejandro Erramún, MFA, Academic Coordinator of Animation and Video Games, along with Mtr. Diego Miranda, Deputy Academic Coordinator of the same program.
The winning shorts were selected by the festival jury, composed of Augusto Goicoechea, 3D character animator and illustrator; and Colin Giles with his team from Vancouver Film School.
Also serving on the jury were graduates and faculty of the Bachelor’s Degree in Animation and Video Games, including Sofía Caponnetto, producer and animator specializing in VR/AR and stop motion projects; Jersao De Los Santos, 2D animator and illustrator; and Nicolás González, 2D, 3D, and motion graphics animator and illustrator.
Jury Grand Prize and Best Student Short
A Sparrow’s Song, directed by Tobias Eckerlin (Germany)
Inspired by a true story, a widowed elderly woman during World War II struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy in her life.
Daily, she acts as a guardian during air raids in crowded shelters, witnessing the suffering of children and others.
One morning, she finds a dying sparrow and hopes to save its fragile life.
Best Uruguayan Short and Best Uruguayan Student Short
Dare: Code Red, directed by Andrés Magnone
Set in a futuristic cyberpunk dystopia in the 2060s, the short follows Dare, a mysterious and mute bounty hunter with a troubled mind, making him dangerous in pursuit of his target.
His mission is to infiltrate a maximum-security prison called the Hunters Union of America (HUA), a government agency tasked with pursuing fugitives.
However, his plan is interrupted by Alex, a nurse with synthetic eyes, and a determined guard, leading to a confrontation.
Best Experimental Short
When I Waked, I Cried to Dream Again, directed by Daniel A. Kelin, II (USA)
Inspired by a legend from Losap Atoll (Federated States of Micronesia), the story follows a young fisherman who gains much more than expected when he accidentally falls onto a small hidden island in the ocean and meets a young marine creature living there.
When his fishing companions try to capture it, the fisherman realizes he must set it free to protect it.
Best Animated Short
Sana, directed by Manuel Larios (Peru)
A young clay figure, fragmented by emotional abandonment, seeks refuge in an imaginary setting to reconstruct himself through his pain, heal his wounds, and find answers.
Using physical models and 3D characters, the short explores youth emotional health through a story of resilience and human connections.
Best Commercial/Video Clip
Primera Fonda, directed by Bruno Carro and Luis Prada (Uruguay)
The music video, directed by Carro and Prada, accompanies the song Primera Fonda by singer-songwriter and guitarist Fernando Cabrera.
The song poetically narrates the history of Montevideo, from pre-foundation times to the present day.
Pre-University Workshops
During the festival, pre-university students attended three workshops offered by animation teachers and professionals.
On September 2, Designing a Character focused on character creation, a key element in all animation.
Participants learned a simple method using basic geometric shapes to shape and color a character, with the principle that knowing a character is essential before designing it.
In Concept Art for Environments on September 3, students worked through the creative process from base sketches to final details.
They designed silhouettes with three tones for depth and composition, incorporated image fragments and blending modes to build textures, and used Photoshop adjustment layers for lighting to achieve rich, coherent atmospheres.
Finally, on September 4, Introduction to Video Game Design introduced students to game design as a starting point for creating future video games.
Participants learned about game production, developer roles, and even had the opportunity to create their own games.
With nearly two decades of continuous activity, FIA has not only showcased the richness and diversity of international animation to the Uruguayan audience but also helped position Uruguay on the global animation map.
